8 things we learned at the 2015 MAKS Air Show

Spectators watching indicative span group of helicopters at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2015 in Zhukovsky near Moscow. Source: RIA Novosti/Vladimir Astapkovich

The MAKS 2015 International Aviation and Space Salon took place between Aug. 25 and 30 in Zhukovsky, near Moscow. RBTH presents the 8 most important features of this year’s event.

1. Attendance
numbers are down

MAKS 2015
was attended by 156 foreign participants from 30 countries around the world.
The U.S. was represented by 24 companies, France by 6, while the presence of
Chinese companies, with respect to the previous event, tripled. However, the
numbers are significantly lower than in 2013 (MAKS is held once every two
years), when 287 foreign companies from 44 different countries participated.

2. The
event had a Middle Eastern flavor

The event
welcomed many high-ranking guests from the Middle East. Iran has already voiced
its interest in buying Sukhoi Superjets, while Egypt will buy the Ka-52 attack
helicopter. It was also announced that France is negotiating with Egypt the
sale of one of the Mistrals, which, according to Russia's military, was
supposed to serve as a base for the Ka-52s before its delivery to Russia was
curtailed over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine conflict.

3.
Cooperation with Europe is continuing

Despite
the crisis and the sanctions, which have affected the Russian military
industry, cooperation with European countries in the sphere is
continuing. Airbus showed off its A-350 wide-body passenger plane and the
multipurpose H225M helicopter. Russia’s Tekhnodinamika Holding, which produces
aviation components, and the French company Microturbo (a part of Safran)
signed an agreement on the joint production of an auxiliary power unit for
civilian use.

4. The
event was particularly lucrative for Belarus

Belarus
announced that it was buying five Tor-M2E short-distance antiaircraft systems
and signed a contract for the supply of another unit of the four newest Russian
Yak-130 combat training planes (the Belarus Air Force currently has 4
Yak-130s).

5. Import
substitution is on the march in the aviation sector

Representatives
of the United Engine Corporation announced that now the AI-222-25 engine, which
is installed in the Yak-130, will be fully made in Russia. The engine was previously
produced with the help of Ukrainian components. It was also announced that the
Mi-38 helicopter is now to use Russian engines (they
were formerly Canadian).

6. Russia is stepping up drone production

The
Rostec stand contained a full-sized model of the multipurpose Chirok unmanned
aerial vehicle, the Zala Aero Company (from the Kalashnikov Concern)
demonstrated the new air reconnaissance operational-tactical system, while the
KRET Company exhibited the concept-project of the attack drone.

The Ural Civilian
Aviation Plant, famous for providing the power capacity for the assemblage of
the drones bought in Israel, is now planning to build UAVs based on the
Austrian light Diamond DA42 airplane.

7.
Supplies of Su-35 fighters are
growing

The
expected signing of the contract with China on the supplies of Su-35 fighter
jets did not take place during MAKS. However, it was announced that by the end
of 2015 the Russian Defense Ministry will sign a new contract on the supply of
an additional number of Su-25s to the Chinese Air Force. Currently,
the delivery of the first unit out of the 48 planes is being concluded.

8.
Civilian aviation is taking off

The
Sukhoi Civilian Aircraft company signed a contract for the supply of 32
short-haul Sukhoi Superjet 100 planes with the State Transportation Leasing
Company, which has an option to buy another 28 planes. The client should
receive the planes between 2015 and 2017. The first planes will be delivered by
the Russian Yamal Airline.